Customer Reviews

M2

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

....subtitled "It's Miller Time, Baby"...

You cannot get no greater jazz CD than this. Well, to me it's labeled jazz, but in the spirit of jazz, Marcus has metamorphosed the genre into something else, something more. Something I find my feeble words are not doing justice for. I have always dug the cat from way back when...I noticed him originally on Roberta Flack's "Live and More" album. It was kinda an inaugural production for where Miller and Vandross would take the pop-Soul sound to in those many early Lu Vandross tunes.

Don't forget that lil Marcus Miller tidbit, but see, that was then, this is now. Marcus is and always will be a great bass player, but to me he is a true genius. You gotta hear this guy on this CD to really know what I mean. He plays a myriad of instruments, synthetisers, and bass clarinets(?!)...vocorders... A four string fretted 1977 Fender Bass....

Most of the tracks are mixed by the great Ray Bardani. Marcus' many collaborators here include Branford Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Poogie Bell, Herbert Laws, Raphael Saddiq (on the great track "Boomerang"), Hiram Bullock, Djavan, Chaka Khan, and the lovely Nikki Miller. It reminds me of what Stanley Crouch says of the true democracy of jazz...evvybody's got to do their job, evvy body's got to KNOW HOW TO PLAY (not to mention how to outright groove) and leave your egos at the door, you WILL get a solo in a set or two or three.... Back to the CD. You will simply love each cut....the classic remakes of tunes of Coltrane, Mingus ("Goodby Pork Pie Hat"), and Cobham...the art house funk of The Talking Heads' "Burning Down the House" (one of my all time favorite THs tunes)....Marcus' original compositions, "Power" and "Three Dueces"....

I don't think I write anything that can really do justice for the stupendous production. And when that happens, I say to myself, "This is what it means to be transcendent..."

Get this CD and see exactly what greatness you have been missing.

Marcus Miller is one of the best bassists around, one of the best ever. He ranks with Vic Wooten, Alain Caron, Jeff Berlin and John Pattituci as being one of the best bass players today. But, as opposed to those mentioned, Marcus' musical frame is more mainstream-oriented. This CD is a brilliant display of his virtuosity and creativity on the instrument. What made me give this album 4 stars and not 5 is the overproduction. It is basically a smooth/funky Jazz cd. If it was a sax instead of a bass, I would not listen to it. But, because I am a bass player, and Marcus, like I said, is one of the greatest, I do listen to it because it is required listening for a bassist. But I would recommend to him to adopt a more organic approach instead of relying so much on synths and drum machines. Get a group of great musicians and let them wail along with you and record it live in the studio. I think I would then give such a cd ten stars if I could. He has got the talent, the creativity, the knowledge to make absolutely amazing music, but his technological inclinations render his music a bit dull, repetitive, and cold. But in the right mood, and in small doses, this album does satisfy.

Marcus wher have you been ! This is a very funky CD from the first cut, Power, which takes you on a groove to the final cut with Chaka Khan. Only one vocal on the CD and it's good to see marcus get back to his funky roots. If you like mood music buy Kenny G but if you like funky tunes with a host of people, including herbie Hancock then buy this and buy it NOW ! It will stay in your CD player for quite a while.

Marcus Miller is one of the top two bassists playing today, and M2 shows that off along with his songwriting and production skills. The album is very smooth, it's definitely jazz, but it has a very strong R&B feel to it. It'll thrill and amaze, but mostly it'll make you feel good inside.

Marcus Miller's "M2" was a highly regarded album, and rightfully so, upon its release-- generally known as one of the true masters of the bass guitar, Miller shows off his skills on the instrument in this series of bass-driven songs-- Miller's schtick is to state the use the bass in a melody role, and why not? No one ever expects a sax player or guitarist to be confined to playing certain lines after all. The bass is mixed way in front, and is the primary solo voice on most pieces, but to me what makes Marcus so special as a bassist is his ability to seemlessly step back when soemone else solos and play in a more standard bassline role. Musically speaking, the album is hard driven electric jazz-- I hesitate to title it either fusion or smooth jazz, it is most clearly influenced by Miles' records with Marcus in the late '80s.

The song selection features a good number of covers on this record, incuding jazz masters Coltrane ("Lonnie's Lament"), Mingus ("Goodbye Pork Pie Hat") and Billy Cobham ("Red Baron") and new wave rock legends Talking Heads ("Burning Down the House"). Remarkably, its the pieces that Miller pulls way out of their original idiom, namely the Trane and the Mingus song, that succeed best-- "Lonnie's Lament" gets a really deep r&b arrangement that so stunningly reinterprets the song as to bury the original and "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" is one of those songs for bassist, they all eventually pursue it. "Burning Down the House" really fails miserably in my book, it just sounds kind of goofy.

The remainder of the album is largely bass-driven instruments, some succeed better than others (opener "Power", "Nikki's Groove") and a couple great r&b vocal tunes ("Boomerang", with just some monster bass playing, "Your Amazing Grace")-- if there's a complaint, its that the album is really quite long and gets a little repetitive now and again, but there's so much good material on the record that its easy to overlook this. I'd recommend "The Sun Don't Lie" over this one, but its definitely a great record.

The Grammy Award winning album M^2 (M Squared) which was released in the summer of 2001 is an excellent album for jazz/r&b listeners and especially for bassists. Marcus Miller is undoubtedly one of the best, if not the best bassist today. He also plays sax and bass clarinet on his albums and live shows. Marcus Miller's style is a fusion of funk, hip-hop, jazz and rock. His slap-funk style is what influences and inspires many of today's bassists. The Marcus Miller band also features drummer Poogie Bell. Together, this rhythm section seduces listeners to groove to the rhythm.

"M Sqaured" can be considered the best Marcus Miller album to date. The blend of elements of funk and jazz really attracts listeners. Marcus Miller's compositions have come a long way from his earlier albums. "Power," "Boomerang," and "Nikki's Groove" are a few of the excellent tracks on this album. However, undoubtedly the best song on this album is "Power." Marcus' improvisation along with Poogie laying down the rhythm behind the beat show's the musicianship of Marcus along with the other studio musicians. "M Squared" is an album where you can't go wrong.

Another one in the basket for our friend Marcus Miller! I must admit at my first listening of this album, I wasn't sure what I thought, as it was in a slightly different vein to his previous works of the 90's. However, as with any great peice of musical mastery, it grows on you. And man, by the time id finnished, this album became a part of me! It truely is a great album, and damn right for getting best contempory jazz album at the Grammy's!
Marcus displays his musical, and technical prowess on this album even more than ever in my opinion, and yet it remains very refine and intricate, a quality I always admire as a bass player myself. My personal favourites have to be "Good bye pork hat" and "Red Baron".I fully recomend any of Marcus Millers to anyone out there, not matter what style of music you listen to, because I assure you, there is something to be learned from every peice of music.

I picked up M2 by accident last summer -- I listened to it at an in-store listening station, and instantly fell in love with it it. Sure, it's got awesome bass playing to it, but not being a bass player, I noticed it more for its refreshing originality and unparalleled class. The bass lines are solid, the bass solos are incredible, the guitar/synth/keyboard rhythm section is a joy to listen to, the horn section is tight, and the drums and drum sounds are great. It's an awesome display of urban culture and soul. If you've got the money, buy this CD; if not, save up! It's well worth it!

I can't help but use the expression "Renaissance Man" to describe Marcus' delightfully broad pallette; he just pulls so many amazing, different sounds out of the bag (chances are, his own bag of chops). Some of the material is only a continuation of his grooves on previous albums, but I think his writing and producing chops continue to grow and develop. The vocal production of "Boomerang" is lovely. "Your Amazing Grace" is an incredible arrangement and adaptation of the great and timeless hymn. Lots of other great tunes and production too. Look for the good and praise it.

Marcus Miller is probably the first musician I fell in love with. I first got turned onto him through his work with David Sandborn...in particular his "Straight to the Heart" album from 84. When a live studio video of that performance was released I ran out and got it. It has some of the best Marcus bass playing I've ever heard...plus I got to SEE him do it. I started running out and buy everything I could find him playing on:
Luther Vandros, Grover, Grusin, Sample, Benson, Miles, Tom Scott...and I was rarely disappointed.

Unfortunetely Marcus appears to be one of many outstanding musicians who's best work will always be on other peoples albums (think Larry Carlton). There are some very nice moments here...particulary on Cousin John and Lonnie's Lament but his over use of synth, drum loops and his strange obsession with the bass clarinet drags his albums down. His song writing is outstanding, but would be better realized with a tighter, more focused band(Omar Hakim? Joe Sample?). I'm not sure if Poogie Bell once saved him from a burning building before...that's the only reason I can see him not going out and getting a more accomplished drummer. He's not in Marcus' league. Dean Brown does appear worthy however.

Alas I'm sure I will still continue to buy Marcus CD's on the day that they are released hoping that he will put together that classic that I know he has inside him. Where is your "School Days" Marcus?